They only recently graduated (summa cum laude) from the École normale de musique de Paris founded by Alfred Cortot, and now their brilliance will be presented on stage at the Théâtre de la Ville. Fabrice Bligoud Vestad, who is both French and Norwegian, has the program Let’s Dance, Sing and Dream for young audiences with striking, virtuoso pieces including some of Grieg’s Lyric Pieces and the spectacular Mephisto Waltzes by Liszt, as well as Ravel’s famous Pavane pour une infante défunte. Ruben Plazier, originally from the Netherlands, will then introduce Chopin, the composer from Poland who once lived in Paris on the square d’Orléans just a short distance from the Théâtre des Abbesses. After Preludes, the ultimate work of the Romantic era, he will play the Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante. The final part of the afternoon concert will be presented by a 2024 Artist Diploma graduate (to be announced).

Nicolas Southon